Paramedic Arrested After Vials of Morphine Allegedly Stolen From Ambulance Found

A Monterey County paramedic was arrested with two other people Wednesday after authorities found vials of morphine reported stolen from an ambulance, according to the county sheriff’s office. Deborah Bennet, a 46-year-old paramedic, and her roommates Michael Pipitone, 52, and Jennifer Cooke, 32, were arrested after deputies found illegal drugs in the residence they shared in unincorporated Castroville, sheriff’s officials said.

The arrests came as authorities from the Monterey County Auto Theft Task Force and the Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Task Force had been investigating stolen cars recovered from the Castroville home in the past few months, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators used a search warrant to explore the home in the 15000 block of Del Monte Farms Road at 12:18 p.m. Wednesday and recovered quantities of heroin and methamphetamine, several vials of morphine, a firearm and ammunition. The morphine had been stolen from an ambulance usually driven by Bennet, sheriff’s officials said. The suspects were booked into Monterey County Jail in Salinas.

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